Mixed emotions as Perez, Kobayashi bow out

25 November 2012

Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi were left with mixed emotions after the pair completed their final races for the Sauber team in Brazil.

Perez was hoping to end his year on a high having endured a tough run of form since the announcement that he is to move to McLaren next year but his race came to an early end when he was caught up in a clash with Bruno Senna at turn four and was forced out.

It meant a sixth successive race without scoring for the Mexican who admitted he was puzzled as to how he had ended up in retirement.

“I really wanted to finish the season in a different way,” he said. “It was a great season with three podiums and I want to thank everyone at Sauber. I wish the team all the best and will now take on my new challenge. I didn't really understand what happened after the start today. I went to the inside to avoid contact with other cars and then people crashed into me.”

Kobayashi meanwhile was able to end the season with some points to his name after taking ninth spot, despite a late spin while dicing for position with Michael Schumacher.

“I had a good start and stayed out of trouble,” he said. “The beginning of the race was good. Then the track conditions became tricky with the drizzle and I had contact with Mark Webber's car. That was why we had to change the nose cone when I pitted for intermediate tyres after eight laps. At my second pit stop after 18 laps I changed to hard slick tyres. For some reason it was a rather long stop, but nevertheless afterwards I was in sixth again. I think we did my last pit stop one lap too late. The conditions were right for Intermediates again. However, the weather forecast apparently said something different and then we also had a problem with the front left.

“At the end I was much quicker than Michael and tried to overtake him, but on the inside it was a lot wetter than on the racing line and I lost the rear. Overall I think it was a really good race. I was able to do my own race and fight. I am happy for the team and for myself that we have scored points in this our last race together. I want to thank Sauber for the good times we have had and now I will try to find myself a Formula One cockpit for next year.”